Three University of Florida soccer players are among the soccer coaches preseason All-Southeastern Conference team, the league office released Wednesday. Florida, the two-time defending SEC champions, led all teams with its three selections.

This is the second year for the preseason All-SEC team. The coaches preseason All-SEC team consists of a minimum of 11 players. Each SEC Head Soccer Coach voted for three forwards, three midfielders, three defenders, one goalkeeper and one at-large candidate. No ties were broken. The Gators among the SEC Soccer Preseason List includes:

Ameera Abdullah (Sr., MF)

·         Two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection (first team in 2006, second team in 2007)

·         2006 All-America third-team selection by both NSCAA/adidas and SoccerBuzz.com

·         2007 All-SEC Tournament selection

·         Part of two U.S. U-23 National Team trips to Europe in spring of 2008

·         Turned in 17 goals, nine assists for 43 points as a Gator; Florida's top returning scorer from 2007 (4 g, 5 a, 13 pts)

Ashlee Elliott (Jr., MF)

·         2007 All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection

·         2007 All-SEC Tournament selection

·         Part of two U.S. Youth National Team trips in spring of 2008 - part of U.S.'s U-20 National Team's Four Nations Tournament championship team in La Serena, Chile; also part of U-23 National team that competed in England

·         Turned in nine goals, seven assists for 25 points as a Gator

Lauren Hyde (Jr., D)

·         2007 NSCAA All-America third-team member

·         2007 & 2006 All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection

·         Topped the Gators in minutes played from her center back position, averaging more than 91 minutes per match in 2006 and 2007

·         Started all of Florida's matches as a freshman and sophomore

Florida opens the 2008-08 competitive season for the Gator athletic program when it travels to Boulder, Colo., to meet Colorado on Aug. 22. The Gators return to the Sunshine State to face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Aug. 24. The opening weekend of home action for the Gator soccer team is Aug. 29-31. Florida faces the same team it played in the 2007 season home finale, UCF, at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 for the 2008 home opener at the James G. Pressly Stadium. UF and UCF played to a scoreless tie in 2007 NCAA Second Round action, with Florida advancing to the NCAA Round of 16 after taking a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks. Florida also meets Nebraska on Aug. 31 at 1 p.m.

A complete list of the 2008 SEC Soccer Coaches Preseason All-SEC team follows.